Shoanti involvement in Crown of Fangs

[Illessa]

My group have just finished Skeletons of Scarwall and before they head back to Korvosa they're intending to go back to the Storval Plateau to contact the Sklar-Quah and try to enlist their help in igniting rebellion and/or deposing the queen. They got just about as many respect points as it was possible to get in History of Ashes (despite the conjurer and favoured soul being bare-faced cheats during the trial of the totems) and they're willing to negotiate as necessary. Obviously they aren't able to give Korvosa back to the Shoanti, and they can't return the Fangs of Kazavon as they've already determined where they're going, so they're intending to offer:

• A guarantee that the Midnight's Teeth will be guarded in a secure location (they're going to Celestia as part of the payment for a Planar Binding)
  
• Unrestricted access to the city as long as they respect Korvosan law
  
• A place on the ruling council for Sklar-Quah representatives from outside the city (once the queen is deposed they're going to try to set up a council of community leaders including representation for the Chelaxian, Korvosan, Varisian and Shoanti population, with Neolandus Kalepopolis chairing with the tie-breaking vote. They're also considering having the council democratically elected, although that's mostly so they can appeal to Andoran for aid getting set up)
  
• The palace and pyramid would be given back to the Quah to guard and control
  

The party are well liked in the city (they really went above and beyond in 7DttG) and they're in regular Sending/Dream contact with Neolandus, Vencarlo, Cressida and Trinia (who accompanied the party throughout HoA, but went back to Korvosa in SoS in the hope that she can be a rallying figure and symbol of defiance for the resistance), so would they be willing to go along with this idea? What would the Sklar-Quah's response be? If they do agree, what would they be willing/able to do?

I've got a fair idea of what's going to happen next week, but I'd quite like to hear other people's opinions on the situation, as I admit, they kind of blind-sided me with this one :).

[DMFTodd]

What do the they plan on having the Sklar-Quah do? Are they going to attack the city? I don't see them being disciplined fighters, only engaging the Queen's guards. And I don't see much of the city tolerating a Shoanti attack. Seems like a bad idea.

Now, borrowing a small group of elite fighters for special missions, that could work. I'd probably run the adventure as written and just throw in some flavor text as to what the Shoanti do in that time. Give the players some victory points for the good idea.

[Ulak]

I would have the Quah agree, but insist they can only commit a small, elite force capable of working within the confines of a command structure run by urban outsiders while they gather the main forces of the Quah to provide whatever support the PCs deem required on a grander scale (this need never arrive as this should be enough to get the PCs on the way back to the city). Have the elite warriors (40 or so) lead by 1000 Bones or someone from 1000 Bones family, and have him agree to coordinate with Cressida Kroft.

I really like the idea of the racial-based council since that seems to be such an ingrained element of the world. I'm not so sure you'd have many people agreeing to Democracy in Korvosa, but that's a detail that could be hashed out at a later date (after the Queen is deposed?)

I almost look at this less as a request for military intervention than the PCs trying to resolve the historic wrongs bewteen the Korvosans and the Shoanti, and I think that's incredibly noble. I would definitely play that part up, marginalize the "military support" aspect of the Shoanti, but in the final analysis have Kroft point out that the rebellion would have been doomed without the valiant activities of the elite Shoanti supporting the already overtaxed rebels.

You can do all kinds of fun stuff with this too, I can see a lot of joint Hippogriff/Shoanti outrider task forces becoming the elite "rider-based" military presence on the continent as the Sable Company refills its ranks with willing Shoanti warriors looking for adventure.

[Charles Evans 25]

If a marauding army of Shoanti show up outside Korvosa, I see the citizens, guards, and grey maidens all closing ranks behind Ileosa's rule in the crisis, throwing their full support into the war effort. The citizens and guards won't know that the army of Shoanti is there to help them; they'll just look and see an army of Shoanti, trying to destroy the place, the same way as has happened repeatedly in the past, as Ileosa's agents will be quick to point out.
A small elite group of Shoanti in use in Korvosa, against Ileosa's forces might be acceptable to the city's population, so long as constantly accompanied by at least one 'known' and trusted PC (or perhaps Blackjack).

Once the city is secure, it might be possible for Neolandus (or whoever is in charge) to send for Shoanti assistance 'to help garrison the city against the tyrant's return', athough I would still think Diplomacy checks by PCs addressing the public to explain that this is necessary and that things will be okay, should be attempted by responsible PCs to help reassure the populace.

I'm not sure whether or not the terrain would pose a problem to Shoanti in any numbers moving around in the Mushfens, in support of the latter part of the adventure. I don't see anywhere near the political problems that a large number 'helping out' around Korvosa might cause.

Once Ileosa is dealt with, then the PCs have a lot of negotiation ahead, with trying to see through the plans they've made for reforms, and agents both within the city (and perhaps from Cheliax or other powers) may try to destablise the process.

[Charles Evans 25]

To address what the Sklar-Quah might do, I think (given your mention of the high respect you say the PCs have garnered) that they would be fairly enthusiastic about all the proposals, although some of the shamans would counsel caution if the PCs are hoping an army of Sklar-Quah will help attack Korvosa. Thousand Bones (for one) has lived in Korvosa, and will know of the prejudices and fears of the city's population- and how they might react to a large number of Shoanti tribesmen showing up outside the gates.